Mental Floss

SPACE

Why Astronaut Urine Is a National Treasure

NASA chemists keep the space travelers’ urine samples in a special sealed bunker.

Stephen Luff via Flickr // CC BY 2.0

4 Odd Things David Bowie Taught Us About Space

In memory of the legendary rocker, who has died at age 69.

Penn State Flickr // CC BY-NC 2.0

5 of the World's Largest Telescopes—and Their Discoveries

You can visit all of them.

M. Ness & G. Stinson / MPIA

Scientists Create the First Age Map of the Milky Way

A new technique allows scientists to reveal the galaxy's young, old, and middle-age stars.

NASA

Scientists Say They've Found a Way to Make Martian Concrete

This could be what Martian colonies of the future are made of.

The Moon Arts Project

An Artistic Snapshot of Humanity is Headed to the Moon

The MoonArk will include genetically modified goat DNA, microscopic sculptures, and a drop of human blood.

YouTube // eames70

Watch the History of the Apollo Program

To the moon!

NASA via Wikimedia Commons

China’s Lunar Rover Discovered a New Type of Rock on the Moon

This marks the first time rock has been sampled on the moon in 40 years.

Display Graphic Design Collection, Flickr // CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

NASA Provides Free PDF of Their 1970s Design Manual

Explore the graphic guidelines of NASA in the 1970s.

The Falcon 9 Rocket Nailed the Landing Last Night. Here's Why That's Huge

If you want to go to space, you need a giant tube of fire.

iStock

The Science of the Solstice

A brief primer.

NASA/Goddard/Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

We're Getting a Full Moon for Christmas

It’s the first Christmas full moon in 38 years, and we won’t see another until 2034.

Via Starwars.com

How NASA Would Build a Death Star

This could be the best route to building an ultimate weapon of destruction.

iStock

Astronauts Can Finally Enjoy a Proper Spot of Tea in Space

This world-renowned chef is reinventing British staples for the ISS.

NASA

15 Things We’ve Learned About the Universe From the Hubble Space Telescope

It has helped us learn about the age of the universe and that supermassive black holes actually exist. The Hubble Space Telescope is a veritable manufacturing plant of discoveries.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory/NASA

NASA Spotted a Storm System Over a Star for the First Time

The storm is the size of three Earths.

quintanomedia via Flickr//CC BY 2.0

10 Stunning Images of the 2015 Geminid Meteor Shower

The starry show was the last major celestial event to occur in 2015.

NASA

Today NASA Begins to Take New Astronaut Applications. Do You Qualify?

Have a BS in a hard science, engineering, or math, and three years of professional experience? Read on.

Julie Rossman and David Klatt, World Science Festival

What Are the Chances Life Could Exist on These Nine Planets and Moons?

Mars isn't our only neighbor that could potentially harbor life.

NASA

Look Up! The Geminid Meteor Shower Is Here

Sunday and Monday, the Geminid meteor shower rounds out 2015's offering of celestial wonders.

iStock

Here's How Much It Would Cost to Mail a Christmas Card to Mars

Start saving now.

Danielle Futselaar // SETI International

There Is No Alien Megastructure in Our Galaxy After All

Theories that a flickering star was really a structure harnessing energy have been debunked.

Listen to John Legend Sing a Duet With Actual Stars

The first ever collaboration between a musician and stars in space.

NASA (Public Domain) // Photo ID S61-04540

Enos the Chimp, First Chimp in Orbit, 54 Years Ago Today

The story of Enos, second "space chimp," who launched 54 years ago today.